Ashley's Family

I'v been working on my friend Ashley's family tree lately. Her family includes surnames such as: Short, Melvin, Mocaby, Murry, and Tallent. It's a nice brake from research my own family, because hers is very different. Her family lived mainly in Illinois, unlike mine (GA/SC) or my sister's husbands (PA/NY). 

Today I'm trying to back up my sources. I did the same thing with Ashley's family tree as I did with mine - I didn't record a lot of my sources. I've found two WWI Draft card registrations, that have really helped. I'm also waiting on more information from her mom to help flesh out the tree and help my research.

DNA Testing

It's been five months since Dad & I sent off a DNA test to the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF). We still haven't received any results back. Since it's a free service they make no guarantees on when you'll receive results, and I've found reviews that state that it can take a year! Even then you only see your results online in comparison to other testers.

Since the government is being nice enough to give us some free money, I decided to use part of my economic stimulus money to take a DNA test. As a female I have two options: 1) take a mtDNA test that follows a straight line of female ancestors or, 2) have a male relative (my dad) take a Y-chromosome test to research a straight line of male ancestors. I decided to go ahead and have my Dad do the test and trace my direct paternal line.

I also had to choose a test company. After some research I decided to go with Family Tree DNA and a 67 marker Y-chromosome test (Y-DNA67). I joined a surname project, which saved me money, but it still cost $271 (down from $349 without joining a group).

I'm supposed to receive the test in a week and the results within about seven weeks.

I went to the local library today and used their Genealogy section. I took my computer with me and browsed the books while going through the index file of my gedcom.

I found two useful books. The first was Georgia Interstate Records. I found record of two children of Daniel & Maragret Boatright's children after their father's death.

“Boatright, Charles, orph of Daniel, decd, Margaret Boatright, gdn, Sion Kirkham, Edward Surrency, srus, 9/3/1821, Emanuel, GB”
“Boatright, Nancy, orph of Daniel, decd, Margaret Boatright, Sion Kirkham and Edward Surrency, gdns, 9/3/1821; Benjamin Sherrod, gdn, George Dekle, sec, 9/4/1826, Emanuel, GB”

The other book was Hart County, Georgia Marriages - 1854-1898. I found multiple marriage records in this book that fit my tree. Some of them were: James D. Craft & Emma Richardson, Martha Alice Powell & James S. Craft, and Thomas Craft & Roxie Fisher.

True Love

My aunt sent us scans of a photo and some documents that belonged to my paternal grandparents.

This is a photo of my paternal grandparents. My grandfather carried around a copy of this photo in his wallet all the time. He wrote "True Love" on the back